The Entrepreneur Experiment

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Colin Meagle, serial entrepreneur, venture builder, and founder of Continuous Ventures. Colin has built, scaled, and exited multiple businesses: from creative agencies to international tech ventures, and now operates out of Dubai, where he helps founders and corporates spin up disruptive businesses at scale. Colin shares his candid insights on what it really takes to spot opportunities, harness talent, and scale globally. From exiting Irish agencies to launching a venture studio in the Middle East, Colin talks about why saying no is a superpower, how to avoid AI-driven obsolescence, and why Ireland must think bigger if it wants to compete on the global stage. If you’re a founder, investor, or anyone curious about building in fast-changing markets, this episode is packed with hard-won lessons on talent, focus, and disruption. Show Notes – In this episode, we cover: 🌍 Why Colin moved to Dubai and how it reshaped his entrepreneurial vision 🚀 The evolution from running agencies to building a global venture studio 💡 How to spot patterns, talent, and opportunities others miss 🤖 AI disruption: which industries are safe—and which are already gone 🔑 Why saying “no” is one of the most powerful skills for founders 🏗 The difference between building vs. running a company (and why Colin prefers one over the other) 📉 Why traditional VC is contracting and how venture studios are changing the game 🇮🇪 Colin’s honest take on Ireland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem—and what needs to change ⏳ The importance of 60-month windows when building ventures 🧠 Why judgment, creativity, and EQ will define the winners in the AI era “Failure is a currency. You should be failing every single day. That’s how you develop the reflexes to succeed.” – Colin Meagle Links & Resources Continuous Ventures: https://www.linkedin.com/company/continuousventures/about/ Follow Colin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmeagle/ —— Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

This week’s Mentor Moment dives into how Nadia Adan built her brand through bold, disruptive content, and why testing, learning, and finding a repeatable format is the secret to scaling on social media. Michael Corcoran shares why standing out often means doing the opposite of everyone else, and how brand storytelling, even with its raw ups and downs, is what truly connects with audiences. 🎧 To hear the full conversation, search for Episode 396 of The Entrepreneur Experiment. 🎟 Early bird tickets for EE Live @ The Sugar Club — November 30th: https://luma.com/6bwymzzt?fbclid=PAVE... —— Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?even...)

In this solo episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox takes us behind the scenes of the very first Entrepreneur Experiment Retreat — a transformative five-day experience in Marbella, Spain that brought together a select group of founders to focus on their body, brain, and business. Gary shares how a spontaneous idea in 2024 turned into a fully-fledged founder retreat, what went into designing the experience, and why moments of stillness, movement, and shared learning can create huge momentum in business and life. From sunrise workouts and deep-dive masterclasses to shared dinners and accountability sessions, this is a blueprint for any founder looking to reset, realign, and reimagine what’s possible. If you’ve ever thought about joining a founder retreat, running one yourself, or simply carving out space to think — this one’s for you. Show Notes In this solo episode, Gary covers: 🔁 Why “done is better than perfect” sparked the idea for the retreat 🌅 The three pillars of the retreat: Reset, One Problem, Vision 🤯 What even 24 hours in a new environment can do for your next 24 months 🧠 The "Hot Seat" method for solving founder problems (without excuses) 📍How Barry Napier (Cubic) set the tone with a €500M lesson in roadmaps ⚡️ Why accountability, peer learning, and curated energy matter 📈 The importance of becoming the face of your business 📌 Why your retreat starts when you get home — not when it ends 🥂 Behind-the-scenes moments from Padel tournaments to seaside visualisation exercises “Knowledge without action is useless. The retreat was about turning what we’ve all learned into real-world traction.” – Gary Fox Resources & Mentions 🎟 Early bird tickets for EE Live @ The Sugar Club — November 30th: 👉 The Entrepreneur Experiment Sugar Club Event Tickets (Nov 30th) Barry Napier – CEO of Cubic 📍Finca Naundrup, Marbella – Retreat location 🧠 Visualisation Challenge – Write a letter from your future self —— Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

This Mentor Moment with Mary Sadlier (from Episode 398) dives into why digital is the great equaliser for entrepreneurs. Mary shares the art of getting products on and off shelves, why persistence matters, and the hard truth that nobody’s coming — unless you ask the right questions. A powerful reminder that value creation and resourcefulness win in business. —— Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Paul Buckley — the fiercely honest and deeply reflective founder behind C2O Group. From nearly going pro in golf to blowing his savings in a poker room, to scaling and selling one of Australia’s fastest-growing engineering companies, Paul shares his rollercoaster journey through ambition, burnout, and bold reinvention. You’ll hear how Paul built EPS Group Australia from the ground up, scaled it to $84M in revenue in just three years, and exited in a major acquisition — only to find himself mentally and emotionally depleted in the aftermath. What followed was a two-year reset, a $14M relaunch, and a second act that’s bigger, sharper, and backed by one of the world’s leading private equity funds. If you're a founder who's exited (or wants to), this episode is your blueprint for navigating what comes next — the highs, the regrets, and the resilience it takes to start again. 🧠 Show Notes In this episode, we cover: 💡 Starting with Nothing: From selling Christmas trees out of a van in Cork to leading billion-dollar infrastructure projects across Australia 🏌️‍♂️ Sliding Doors: What it felt like to lose to Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry — and walk away from golf for good 💸 From Broke to Boardroom: Blowing $30k in 7 weeks... then managing 30+ workers on a $3.5B desalination project in Victoria 🚀 Scaling Fast: How Paul co-founded EPS Group Australia and scaled it from $0 to $84M turnover within 3 years 🧨 Burnout After the Exit: The emotional toll of selling his company and staying on through a high-pressure earnout 🧱 Rebuilding From Scratch: How Paul raised $14M to acquire two businesses in the US and Australia — and build C2O Group 2.0 🧭 What He’d Do Differently: The tax incentives, legal lessons, and partnerships he wishes he'd understood the first time around 👨‍👧‍👦 On Legacy: Why he won’t hand the business to his kids — and what succession means to him now “It brought me to the lowest point in my life by far… I was totally broken, barely able to stand up. It probably took me 12 months — probably 24 — to get my feet back underneath me properly.” — Paul Buckley Links & Resources C2O Group: https://c2ogroup.com/ Follow Paul Buckley on LinkedIn —— Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Rory, the 22-year-old founder of Shirt in a Box, the mystery jersey startup on track to hit €10 million in revenue. What began as a lockdown side hustle selling vintage shirts has exploded into a full-blown e-commerce machine — with 200,000 shirts sold, 2,500 US subscribers, and viral moments like a surprise shoutout from Gary Neville on the UK’s biggest football podcast, The Overlap. Rory breaks down how that single moment led to a 5x revenue day, why influencer marketing only works when it’s authentic, and how he's pivoted from student entrepreneur to full-time CEO building a creative agency within his business to produce 400+ ad creatives a month. From boxing mishaps and marketing fails to future expansion plans in the US and new sports like basketball, this is an unfiltered look at what it really takes to build and scale a modern DTC brand. “That Gary Neville shoutout was probably worth £150,000 to us… and we didn’t even ask him to do it.” 🧠 Show Notes – In this episode, we cover: 📦 How Shirt in a Box works — and why the mystery model taps into childhood nostalgia 🎯 The Gary Neville effect: a €150k shoutout from The Overlap 💥 The power (and problems) of viral growth: stock delays, customer service chaos & staff turnover 🧠 Why managing people is the hardest founder skill to master 🇺🇸 How Rory identified the US as a key market & grew subscriptions 100% from Ireland 👕 New sports, new supply chains: launching mystery basketball jerseys 🎥 Why they now produce 400+ pieces of ad creative every month 🧪 The best performing ad formats right now (including “fake podcast” ads) 🔄 From TikTok to Meta: what’s working (and what they’ve given up on) 🏪 Bricks & mortar dreams: future pop-ups and immersive retail experiences Resources & Links 🎽 Shop Shirt in a Box 🎧 Listen to Gary Neville mention the brand on The Overlap 📚 The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss —— Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

When everyone else is chasing trends, mentalist and hypnotist Keith Barry goes the opposite direction. In this Mentor Moment, Keith reveals how leaning into long-form content—when everyone else was focused on short-form Reels—helped him go viral and land major event bookings. He also shares how he uses platforms like LinkedIn in unconventional ways to connect with decision-makers and why valuing yourself, your energy, and your unique approach is key to standing out. 🎧 This bite-sized insight is taken from Episode 397 of The Entrepreneur Experiment Podcast, where Keith shares his full journey and business lessons. If you want to hear more from Keith, listen back to the full episode now. ———— Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?even...)

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary sits down with Alan Andrews, the unapologetically honest founder behind Old Barracks Roastery and Guji Coffee Bar. Known for his bold social content and Ireland’s most controversial coffee shop (no kids allowed, dogs welcome, €15 cups of coffee), Alan lifts the lid on the real cost of starting and scaling a successful hospitality business. He breaks down the myths that plague the coffee industry — from delusional €10K startup budgets to the glorification of hustle culture — and explains why €100K is the minimum buy-in for building a sustainable, profitable coffee business. Alan also shares the deeply personal reasons behind his adults-only policy, how he prioritises family without sacrificing growth, and why honesty (not trends) should drive your brand strategy. This episode is a masterclass in branding, business modelling, and living by your values — one cup at a time. Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: ☕ The Real Costs of Starting a Coffee Shop Why €10K won’t cut it, and what you actually need to spend How Alan built a coffee bar in Limerick for €100K — and what that buys you The weekly turnover benchmark every shop needs to survive: €10K 📈 Sustainability in Hospitality Are you building a job or a business? The industry’s problem with low-barrier entry and poor planning Why coffee deserves the same pricing architecture as wine or steak 🔥 Polarising Branding & Standing Out The €15 coffee that sparked national debate Adults-only cafes: creating intentional spaces for deep connection Why Alan doesn't care if everyone likes him — and how it’s his superpower 🎯 Transparent Social Media Marketing Alan’s viral TikToks on coffee costs and customer misconceptions How to win on social in 2025: go real, go niche, get honest "The customer isn’t always right — sometimes they’re just not your customer." 👨‍👧 Entrepreneurship & Fatherhood The hidden reason Alan created a kid-free cafe How divorce and co-parenting shaped his time philosophy The ultimate goal: build a business that doesn’t cost you your family 💬 “You didn’t even buy yourself a job — you bought yourself a trap. You’re working 14 hours a day, making no money, and calling it entrepreneurship.” Links & Resources: Visit Old Barracks Roastery (Birdhill): https://oldbarracks.ie/ Follow Alan on TikTok: @oldbarracksroastery Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this Mentor Moment, Gary Fox speaks with Sahil Bloom — investor, writer, and creator — about how his definition of success has transformed. Once focused purely on financial outcomes, Sahil now measures success through time, people, purpose, and health, seeing money as a natural byproduct rather than the goal. He also shares a refreshing take on imposter syndrome, reframing it as a sign of growth and a tax on personal progress, and explains why asking “Why not me?” is the mindset shift every founder needs when stepping into bigger rooms. This is a short but powerful conversation packed with perspective shifts to help you redefine success on your own terms. To listen to the full episode, go to episode number 401. ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners: Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with one of Ireland’s most recognisable business voices, Bobby Kerr — founder of Perk, former CEO and Chairman of Insomnia, investor, broadcaster, and champion of Irish enterprise. Bobby shares his remarkable journey from starting his first business at 39 — remortgaging his house with a newborn at home — to building Insomnia into over 800 locations across Ireland through smart partnerships, relentless drive, and a willingness to bet on himself. He reveals the lessons learned from navigating the arrival of Starbucks, the power of merging with competitors to scale, and why focusing on multiple revenue streams saved the business more than once. Bobby also opens up about selling in 2018 after a cancer diagnosis, the freedom he’s designed for himself since, and the businesses exciting him today, from Bread 41 to Irish tourism. Whether you’re an early-stage founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, Bobby’s story is a masterclass in vision, resilience, and knowing when to play the long game. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: ☕ How Bobby spotted Ireland’s coffee culture shift before it happened 🏪 The first Perk café on Grafton Street — and why a turnover-based rent deal was a game-changer 📉 Surviving Starbucks opening next door (and why it helped sales) 🤝 The three-way merger that became Insomnia — and why owning 30% of something bigger was better than 100% of his own 📈 Growing from 5 cafés to 200+ shops and 600 convenience store locations 💡 Creating three revenue streams: high street, concessions, and convenience retail 🛑 The importance of multiple revenue streams to de-risk a business ⚡ Why Bobby sold in 2018 after recovering from cancer 🍞 Why Bread 41 is his “most exciting” current project 🌍 Opportunities in Irish tourism and the bakery market 🎯 What he looks for when backing founders (and why it’s “the jockey, not the horse”) 📚 Bobby’s top book recommendations, daily habits, and best investment advice Links & Resources Bread 41 – Award-winning Irish bakery: https://bread41.ie/ Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing The Spider Covenant by Brian Klein ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Áine Kerr, the award-winning journalist, serial entrepreneur behind startups including Storyful (acquired by News Corp), and Kinzen (acquired by Spotify). From teaching in Dublin classrooms to building Storyful alongside Mark Little, leading global journalism partnerships at Facebook, and launching her second successful startup, Áine shares the lessons she’s learned from a “squiggly career” defined by reinvention, resilience, and purpose. Áine reveals the realities of startup life, why suffering and recommitment are part of the journey, and how she built extraordinary teams that continue to shape the future of technology and media. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, this episode is a masterclass in perseverance, finding your “why,” and creating impact-driven businesses. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: 🔥 How Áine transitioned from teacher to journalist to tech entrepreneur 🚀 The early days of Storyful and the lessons from its sale to News Corp 💡 Why she started Kinzen and how it was acquired by Spotify 📈 The importance of radical transparency, resilience, and “recommitting to the suffering” of startup life 🤝 How to build high-performing teams that outgrow even the founder 🌍 Ireland’s entrepreneurial tipping point and why local ecosystems matter 🧠 The power of asking the right questions and leading without ego 🎯 Why duality (fear and courage) is key to any founder’s journey 💬 “If you have radical clarity on your why, people will back you; even if you have to do half a dozen resets and pivots.” – Áine Kerr Links & Resources Áine Kerr on LinkedIn Kinzen Rethink Ireland Gaisce – The President’s Award The Shona Project Dogpatch Labs AwakenHub ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Fran Quilty, co-founder and CEO of Conjura, the analytics platform powering the world’s fastest-growing e-commerce brands. From spinning out Wayflyer to building one of Ireland’s most exciting SaaS companies, Fran shares the unfiltered reality of transitioning from a services business to a scalable product, raising venture capital, and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape. Fran breaks down how AI is fundamentally changing the way brands operate, why marketplaces like Amazon, TikTok, and Walmart are driving revenue shifts, and the lessons he learned building two companies simultaneously. If you want to understand where e-commerce is headed, and how data and automation will define the next decade - this is an episode you can’t miss. In this episode, we cover: 📈 How Fran and his co-founder spun Conjura out of consulting and discovered the e-commerce goldmine 🚀 The split that created Wayflyer—and how it became one of Ireland’s biggest startup success stories 🔄 Lessons from moving from services to SaaS: why focus beats feature creep 🛒 E-commerce in 2025: the rise of marketplaces, social selling, and channel fragmentation 🤖 The AI revolution in analytics—why agent-based AI will change how brands operate 💡 The 80/20 rule for e-commerce: why 20% of your products drive 90% of your profit 🇪🇺 Why Europe is the fastest-growing e-commerce market right now ⚡ Fran’s advice for founders building in fast-moving industries 💬 “AI won’t just give you insights—it will execute for you. That’s the future.” – Fran Quilty Links & Resources: Follow Fran Quilty on LinkedIn Conjura: https://www.conjura.com ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

Barry Napier didn’t follow the typical founder path. In this bite-sized Mentor Moment, he shares how trading phones around the world laid the foundation for building Cubic Telecom - the company he’d go on to sell 51% of for €473 million. From street smarts to striking deals with Tesla, it’s a story of grit, vision, and relentless execution. To listen to the full episode with Barry, go to episode 355. —- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners: Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo .

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary sits down with Kevin O’Loughlin, founder and CEO of Nostra, one of Ireland’s leading IT services and cybersecurity companies. From being €1 million in debt and living on pasta, to building a company helping 1,000+ businesses across Europe, Kevin shares the deeply personal story behind his mission to impact a million lives. This is not your typical tech founder story. Kevin reveals: - How a recession forced him into radical self-reflection. - Why personal discipline became the foundation of his professional comeback. - The systems, vision boards, and daily habits that guide him. - How he's using AI to empower teams and scale his company—without compromising values. If you're an entrepreneur grappling with uncertainty or looking for clarity on how to scale with purpose, this episode is a must-listen. Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 🧨 How Kevin built Nostra out of a financial crisis and €1M in debt 🧭 Why his vision to “help a million people” fuels every decision 💻 The truth about modern cyberattacks - and why most companies aren’t prepared 🧠 Why daily meditation and visualisation are key to his success 📊 The practical ways Nostra uses AI to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and make better decisions 📈 Why consistent, boring growth beats big risky bets - and how he plans to build Ireland’s largest company 🔐 The single piece of IT advice he gives every business owner ⚡ The two internal mantras that guide company decisions: “What’s the right thing?” and “Would you sell it to your family?” Resources & Mentions: Nostra – Kevin’s company providing managed IT and cybersecurity services: https://nostra.ie/ Whoop – the health tracking device Kevin and Gary both swear by Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” – the framework that shaped Kevin’s personal mission [ChatGPT / Copilot] – Kevin uses AI daily to summarise emails, research problems, and automate planning Enterprise Ireland – early supporter in Nostra’s hiring and UK expansion Datto – the company Kevin recommends for off-site immutable data backups —-- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this weekend's Mentor Moment, Conor Sheridan, founder of Nory, shares the mindset shift that helped him go from startup operator to scaling a global restaurant tech company. From embracing boldness in a culture that often discourages it, to mastering the underrated power of “the next logical step,” Conor breaks down the thinking that led to raising $26 million and building a 10-year roadmap. This is a must-listen for any founder struggling with imposter syndrome, over-planning, or self-promotion. It’s also a reminder that telling your story with conviction isn’t arrogance - it’s your biggest marketing opportunity. Want more? Listen to the full episode [Ep. 389]. —- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox is joined by Ross and David, the powerhouse duo behind Outmin, a game-changing AI bookkeeping platform. What starts as a conversation about longevity, biohacking, and raw vegetable breakfasts quickly evolves into a masterclass in building a deep-tech startup from scratch. From rejecting vanity metrics and confronting brutal truths in fundraising, to rebuilding the accounting infrastructure and quietly revolutionising an unsexy space, Ross and David reveal how Outmin went from an idea to a VC-backed company with 350+ customers across Ireland and the UK. With €4 million in fresh funding and a bold roadmap for the future, they’re not just talking about AI - they’re redefining what it actually takes to automate one of the most painful parts of running a business. This is a must-listen for founders, operators, and anyone curious about what building a truly differentiated startup looks like in the age of AI. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: 🧠 Ross’s “Cheat Death” document: longevity, raw vegetables & bioavailable supplements 💥 Why Outmin rebuilt the general ledger from scratch 🧮 Automating the “toothbrush task” of bookkeeping 🔍 How their dataset became their competitive advantage 📊 Why the AI wave is really a “plumbing” revolution 📈 Fundraising lessons from €0 to €4M 🧪 The importance of testing over storytelling in early-stage startups 💡 How they used public data to book 100+ customer discovery calls 📉 Why tech startups are harder to automate than hospitality 👥 The underrated power of building for 100 people who love you 💬 “If I could inject how I feel every day into someone else—they’d never go back.” – Ross Links & Resources Outmin: https://outmin.io Enterprise Ireland HPSU Program: https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/innovative-hpsu-fund The Data Collective VC analysis: https://dcvc.com Singularity University: https://su.org —-- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this Mentor Moment from Episode 372, David O’Meara, CEO of Greenman Group, unpacks the surprising reality of post-COVID retail: traditional supermarkets aren’t just surviving—they’re evolving. While many predicted the death of brick-and-mortar retail with the rise of e-commerce, David explains why food retail continues to thrive, especially in Germany where shopping habits, cost-conscious consumers, and smart infrastructure keep people coming back in person. He also touches on the bigger picture: how sustainability is shaping the future of retail real estate. From carbon capture tech to smarter building design, Greenman is betting on supermarkets not just as shops, but as future-proof community assets. This clip is a must-listen for anyone in retail, property, or future-focused business strategy. —- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Cait and Cillian, the powerhouse duo behind Luxury Exchange - the Irish-born fashion resale platform that’s redefining pre-loved luxury. From humble beginnings selling designer pieces on Instagram between her shifts at Brown Thomas, Cat grew her side project into a business projected to do over €4 million in turnover this year. Joined by her fiancé and co-founder Cillian, the pair share a raw and inspiring look at what it really takes to scale a customer-first business - from running daily Instagram Lives to bootstrapping every aspect of growth with zero external funding. They open up about the early mistakes (hello, 10% commission), pivotal turning points like their first €6k live sale from a holiday home in Waterville, and the relentless work ethic that powers their mission today. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur or operator wondering how to build a cult brand through trust, taste, and total obsession with your customer, this one’s for you. ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this Mentor Moment from The Entrepreneur Experiment Episode 378, Luke Joyce shares how he’s transformed the traditional window cleaning business using technology, subscriptions, and automation. Luke reveals his vision to scale nationwide, break into the UK, and ultimately build systems that could apply to any home service — all while solving pain points and staying miles ahead of the competition. ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Timo Boldt, the visionary founder and CEO of Gousto, the UK’s leading homegrown meal-kit company. From humble beginnings hand-delivering recipe boxes and knocking on doors, to building a data-powered food business that serves millions of dinners annually, Timo shares his 13-year journey of grit, resilience, and customer obsession. He opens up about the early grind, raising capital without a single VC contact, harnessing AI to scale operations, and his mission to make healthy eating effortless. Whether you’re a startup founder, food enthusiast, or curious about building a complex, capital-intensive company, this episode is packed with real-world lessons on leadership, discipline, and creating meaningful impact.<br /> <br /> <strong>Show Notes</strong><br /> <br /> In this episode, we cover:<br /> <br /> 🔥 How Timo went from cooking in his tiny flat to delivering millions of dinners annually<br /> <br /> 🚀 The scrappy early days—handing out flyers, door-to-door sales, hand-packing boxes<br /> <br /> 💡 Why customer obsession and continuous improvement power Gousto’s growth flywheel<br /> <br /> 📈 How Gousto uses AI in everything from logistics to recipe creation and personalisation<br /> <br /> 💰 The realities of scaling a capital-intensive food business (hundreds of millions raised)<br /> <br /> 🌱 Timo’s vision of Gousto as a future preventative healthcare platform<br /> <br /> ⚡ The underrated power of personal discipline: mindset, gratefulness, and fitness 💬 “The grass is greenest where you water it. Take care of yourself, obsess about the customer, build the best team you can—and great things will happen.” — Timo Boldt<br /> <br /> <strong>Links & Resources</strong><br /> Gousto (now in Ireland)— Try the UK’s leading homegrown meal-kit service: <a href= "https://www.gousto.co.uk/">https://www.gousto.co.uk/</a> <br /> Timo Boldt on LinkedIn — Follow Timo’s journey: <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/timo-boldt/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/timo-boldt/</a> <br /> Book: Die With Zero by Bill Perkins<br /> <br /> -----<br /> <br /> Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! <a href= "https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1">https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1</a> <br /> <br /> ---<br /> <br /> Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a> <br /> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> <br /> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo">https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo</a></p>

<p>In this Mentor Moment, economist Stephen Kinsella joins Gary Fox to break down the patterns behind economic booms and busts - and why the seeds of the next crisis are often sown during the good times. Stephen explains the theory of financial instability, the role of credit, and how euphoria can quickly turn to fear. He also explores what could trigger Ireland’s next major economic shock and how global forces shape our future. If you’re a founder, investor, or simply curious about what’s coming next, this is essential listening. To listen to the full episode with Stephen, look for episode 363. <br /> <br /> -----<br /> <br /> Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! <a href= "https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1">https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1</a> <br /> <br /> ---<br /> <br /> Visit my partners:<br /> <br /> Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a> <br /> <br /> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> <br /> <br /> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo">https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo</a></p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Dean Klatt, the Australian founder of Seed Golf, who built a global direct-to-consumer golf brand… from Carlow. Dean shares the story of how he reverse-engineered premium golf balls, bootstrapped his way to international markets, and took on billion-dollar brands without a cent spent on advertising in the early days.</p> <p>From wind tunnels in rural Ireland to handwritten letters to YouTubers, this episode is a masterclass in strategic thinking, resourcefulness, and challenger brand building. If you’re a founder aiming to disrupt a traditional industry or simply love a good “from zero to one” story, this is a must-listen.</p> <p>Show Notes<br /> In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>⛳ The unconventional path from golf distributor in Australia to founder of Seed Golf in Ireland<br /> 🚀 How Dean designed a high-performance golf ball using university labs, 3D printing, and wind tunnels<br /> 🧠 The strategy behind creating a digital-native, direct-to-consumer brand<br /> 🌍 Going global from day one: leveraging Irish brand identity and organic word-of-mouth<br /> 🎥 Why early influencer marketing worked without a budget — and how they seeded (literally) the market<br /> 🏗️ The two-year product development phase and how Dean overcame self-doubt<br /> 🎯 "If the big brands zig, we zag" — building a challenger brand with authenticity<br /> 🏆 Winning Golf Digest awards 3 years in a row and what that means for future growth<br /> 🛍️ What makes golf balls the perfect D2C product: consumable, shippable, repeatable</p> <p>💬 "Our customers were giving away the golf balls they bought just to tell others about us — that’s when I knew we were onto something." – Dean Klatt</p> <p>🔗 Resources & Links<br /> Seed Golf Website: https://seedgolf.com/<br /> Follow Seed Golf on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedgolfco<br /> Peter Finch Golf YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/peterfinchgolf</p> <p>-----</p> <p>Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 </p> <p>---<br /> Visit my partners</p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland</p> <p>Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE </p> <p>Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo</p>

<p data-start="237" data-end="572">In this bite-sized Mentor Moment, DC Cahalane shares how a late diagnosis of ADHD transformed his understanding of himself — and his work. From battling procrastination to embracing what he once saw as flaws, DC opens up about the mental health rollercoaster that led to a powerful realization: ADHD wasn’t a limitation, it was a lens.</p> <p data-start="574" data-end="762">He unpacks why traditional productivity hacks failed him, how understanding brain chemistry changed everything, and why every founder — diagnosed or not — should read <em data-start="741" data-end="761">Faster Than Normal</em>.</p> <p data-start="764" data-end="949">💡 A must-listen for anyone navigating self-doubt, burnout, or that feeling of being “all or nothing.” This is your reminder that the way your brain works might just be your superpower.</p> <p data-start="951" data-end="1030">🎧 Listen to the full episode: <em data-start="982" data-end="1030">Episode 364 – Inside the Venture Capital Brain</em></p> <p data-start="951" data-end="1030"><em data-start="982" data-end= "1030">---<br /> <br /> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap" dir="auto"><span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto">Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free!</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto"><a href= "https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1">https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1</a><a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href= "https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXphOWFyd2UyY1ZUWjZhSDhjVERmN0hQdk1Qd3xBQ3Jtc0tsRWRjdEZlWXE4NTdRbkp4cnNyc0RodVZPVUFxb3l0U1NjNjZUSzhxdzdTYUNPWnlFcktZcTdvTUhpaTVLUFdWUDRiVFB0VW1fLUwtc0dOd0h6NnlsMzNoREN5N19qeVJ1eEloNW1NX0NRUXJmVG5xYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mrgaryfox.com%2Fsubscribe-1%C2%A0&v=YBTp0Q6Lqi4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> </a></span> <span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><br /> <br /> ---<br /> <br /> Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland:</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto"><a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></span> <span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><br /> Azure Communications:</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto"><a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></span> <span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><br /> Nostra:</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href= "https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVV5WG1HUDhSLWRRS2ptTG80Zm9uZ25MLWFRd3xBQ3Jtc0ttczEwYl9ucC1YbWdZU3pkYXNDdERPaE9sTGxQYk9DQWlFMjAyeGx2dlNCdmJGVk9kc3VhVHpjLXFIcUtCZW83blJDVUVVMHpEV2h2X0hScmh0eGJtczRibGVUaWlOMGg3Rzg4cE1RRGVoQjN0Um11aw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3HHwSMo&v=YBTp0Q6Lqi4" target="_blank" rel= "nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo</a></span></span></em></p> <div id="snippet" class="style-scope ytd-text-inline-expander"> </div> <div class="style-scope ytd-watch-metadata"> <div id="video-summary" class= "style-scope ytd-structured-description-content-renderer"></div> <div id="merch-shelf" class= "style-scope ytd-structured-description-content-renderer"></div> <div id="items" class= "style-scope ytd-structured-description-content-renderer"> <div id="header" class= "style-scope ytd-video-description-transcript-section-renderer"> </div> </div> </div> <p data-start="951" data-end="1030"><em data-start="982" data-end= "1030"> </em></p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox meets Anthony Gallagher - the man behind Petstop, Ireland’s most successful independent pet retailer. From sweeping floors at Penneys to nearly selling his dot-com startup for $42 million (before it all collapsed), Anthony’s story is packed with lessons on grit, resilience, and building something that lasts. He shares how he bounced back from financial ruin using pure hustle, delivered pet food himself during lockdowns, and quietly scaled Petstop to €40 million in annual revenue—all while competing head-to-head with global giants. This is a masterclass in staying the course, putting people first, and never underestimating the power of showing up - week after week, store after store.<br /> <br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Show Notes:</strong></span><br /> In this episode, we cover:<br /> <br /> 🐾 How Anthony grew Petstop to €40M without external takeovers<br /> 💥 The $42M dot-com deal that collapsed overnight<br /> 📦 Using his son’s communion money to pay staff - and bouncing back<br /> 🧠 Competing (and winning) against multinationals like Maxi Zoo<br /> 🏪 The importance of location in retail—and why he still visits every store<br /> 🚚 Scaling delivery by literally driving orders to customers<br /> 🔁 Building a team with 20+ years’ loyalty<br /> 🐕 Why launching private-label brands like Nádúr changed the game<br /> 💡 How being “too early” can kill a great idea (and why timing is everything)<br /> <br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Resources & Mentions:<br /> <br /></strong></span> Anthony's business: <a href= "https://www.petstop.ie/">https://www.petstop.ie/</a> <br /> Private-label brand: Nádúr<br /> Lifestyle pet range: Alice & Co<br /> Irish-made treats company backed by Anthony: Green Treat: <a href= "https://green-treat.com/">https://green-treat.com/</a> <br /> <br /> -----<br /> <br /> Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! <a href= "https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1">https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1</a> <br /> <br /> ---<br /> Visit my partners<br /> <br /> Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a> <br /> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> <br /> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo">https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo</a></p>

<p>What do you do when your business is on the brink of collapse? For Gary Lavin, it meant getting in his car and personally selling into 3,500 stores in 18 months. In this raw and honest moment, Gary shares how fear became his biggest motivator, why most people skip the hard (but essential) work of selling, and how doubling your store count can double your business — if you're willing to do the legwork. This is a must-listen for any founder struggling to grow or hesitant to sell.<br /> <br /> -----</p> <p>Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 </p> <p>---<br /> Visit my partners</p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland</p> <p>Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE </p> <p>Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo</p>

<p data-start="665" data-end="1075">In this episode of <em data-start="684" data-end="713">The Entrepreneur Experiment</em>, Gary Fox sits down with Lorraine Heskin, the trailblazing founder of Gourmet Food Parlour, one of Ireland’s most successful independent hospitality groups. Lorraine shares her journey from selling Irish foods on the streets of Manhattan to opening a tiny 25-seater café off a side street in Dun Laoghaire - without investors, key money, or a culinary background.</p> <p data-start="1077" data-end="1428">She reveals how she grew a brand that now spans restaurants, catering, corporate hospitality, and even cross-country expansion, all while maintaining a fierce loyalty to her team, her customers, and her values. This conversation is a masterclass in brand-building, resilience, and trusting your instincts - especially when the world tells you otherwise.</p> <p data-start="1430" data-end="1576">Whether you're in food, retail, or simply thinking about taking the leap to start your own business, Lorraine’s story will light a fire under you.<br /> <br /> -----<br /> <br /> Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! <a href= "https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1">https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1</a> <br /> <br /> ---<br /> <br /> Visit my partners:<br /> Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a> <br /> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> <br /> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p>

<p>In this Mentor Moment from <em data-start="298" data-end= "311">Episode 365</em> with Laura Bonner, founder of The Muff Liquor Company, she opens up about the mental practices that keep her grounded in business and life. Laura shares her unapologetic belief in therapy, the importance of taking time to reset, and why legacy isn’t about being a great business person—but a great person. It’s a raw, real reflection on healing, perspective, and purpose from one of the most authentic voices we’ve featured.<br /> <br /> ----<br /> <br /> Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! <a href= "https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1">https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1</a> <br /> <br /> ---<br /> Visit my partners<br /> <br /> Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a> <br /> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> <br /> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a><br /> <br /> ---</p>

<p data-start="646" data-end="862">In this episode of <em data-start="665" data-end="694">The Entrepreneur Experiment</em>, Gary sits down with Rory King, the founder of Rory’s Travel Club- a radically simple subscription business that’s quietly revolutionising travel in Ireland and beyond.</p> <p data-start="864" data-end="1248">With no investors, no fancy app, and no startup playbook, Rory turned a €10 Facebook idea into a thriving travel club with over 200,000 members, a 10-person team, and a blueprint to reach one million users. From sleeping in his car outside Applegreen Petrol Station to traveling to Sri Lanka with his customers, Rory shares his unfiltered journey of hustle, honesty, and high-impact email marketing.</p> <p data-start="1250" data-end="1398">If you’ve ever wondered how to build a profitable business without venture capital - or how to make email sexy again - this episode is your masterclass.<br /> <br /></p> <p data-start="1405" data-end="1423"><strong data-start="1405" data-end="1423">Show Notes:</strong></p> <p data-start="1425" data-end="1451">In this episode, we cover:</p> <ul data-start="1452" data-end="2184"> <li data-start="1452" data-end="1525"> <p data-start="1454" data-end="1525">💡 How Rory validated his idea with a €10 PayPal experiment on Facebook</p> </li> <li data-start="1526" data-end="1597"> <p data-start="1528" data-end="1597">📬 Why email marketing (done right) is still king—with 70% open rates</p> </li> <li data-start="1598" data-end="1672"> <p data-start="1600" data-end="1672">🚀 The low-cost, high-impact subscription model fueling explosive growth</p> </li> <li data-start="1673" data-end="1750"> <p data-start="1675" data-end="1750">🤝 How Rory builds loyalty through real-life connection and 1:1 interaction</p> </li> <li data-start="1751" data-end="1818"> <p data-start="1753" data-end="1818">🌍 The plan to scale from Ireland to Scotland, the UK, and beyond</p> </li> <li data-start="1819" data-end="1888"> <p data-start="1821" data-end="1888">🎯 Why keeping the annual fee at €12 is part of the growth strategy</p> </li> <li data-start="1889" data-end="1949"> <p data-start="1891" data-end="1949">🧠 Repurposing old content + smart social media strategies</p> </li> <li data-start="1950" data-end="2024"> <p data-start="1952" data-end="2024">🔄 Retention, recurring revenue, and the beauty of a no-commission model</p> </li> <li data-start="2025" data-end="2097"> <p data-start="2027" data-end="2097">🛏️ How 5-star hotels and top travel brands now come to him with deals</p> </li> <li data-start="2098" data-end="2184"> <p data-start="2100" data-end="2184">☕ From sports science grad to group trip leader: Rory’s real entrepreneurial journey</p> </li> </ul> <p data-start="1250" data-end="1398"> </p> <p data-start="2191" data-end="2216"><strong data-start="2191" data-end="2216">Links & Resources:</strong></p> <ul data-start="2218" data-end="2766"> <li data-start="2218" data-end="2273"> <p data-start="2220" data-end="2273"><a class="" href= "https://www.rorystravelclub.com" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="2220" data-end="2273">Rory’s Travel Club</a></p> </li> <li data-start="2274" data-end="2363"> <p data-start="2276" data-end="2363">Follow Rory on Instagram: <a class="" href="https://www.instagram.com/rorystravelclub" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="2302" data-end= "2363">@rorystravelclub</a></p> </li> <li data-start="2553" data-end="2642"> <p data-start="2555" data-end="2642">Email Marketing Tool Rory Recommends: <a class="" href="https://www.activecampaign.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="2593" data-end= "2642">ActiveCampaign</a></p> </li> </ul> <p data-start="1250" data-end="1398"><br /&

<p>In this Mentor Moment from episode 370, Nadia Adan shares how she left a high-paying corporate job in finance to launch her own car dealership, Ashford Motors, just before the pandemic. With grit, intuition, and a flair for social media, Nadia built a thriving business from scratch—even as others called her a "backstreet garage." This short episode is packed with powerful insights on betting on yourself, overcoming cultural expectations, and building a brand with both heart and hustle.<br /> <br /> ___________________<br /> <br /> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap" dir="auto"><span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto">Visit my partners:<br /> Enterprise Ireland:</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto"><a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></span> <span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><br /> Azure Communications:</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto"><a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></span> <span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><br /> Nostra:</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href= "https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazJaMGtFZkt4QmI2NjJXRm1FNGJLeEd6WWFZQXxBQ3Jtc0trSEd6aTNHY2ptaU1pT1Z5clFDZ3l0VkhvYmdDT0xqT091U253WjVabng4TUg0bVhBVndDU0ZWNjBUT2M2N2xRQU5PcThIX3J5N2dFTWsyMVQxUjM1cFZ1N2ZVNWh3OVBvelo5YzRHWjZrMi0xRzhJSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fnostraee&v=Y3tU45Noa8o" target="_blank" rel= "nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></span></span></p> <div id="snippet" class="style-scope ytd-text-inline-expander"> </div> <div class="style-scope ytd-watch-metadata"> <div id="video-summary" class= "style-scope ytd-structured-description-content-renderer"></div> <div id="merch-shelf" class= "style-scope ytd-structured-description-content-renderer"></div> <div id="items" class= "style-scope ytd-structured-description-content-renderer"> <div class="yt-video-attributes-section-view-model"> <div class="yt-video-attributes-section-view-model__header"> </div> </div> </div> </div>

<p>In this powerful episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox meets Sean Brett – the unstoppable founder behind Steeltech Sheds. From painting houses with no experience to dominating Galway’s coal market and eventually building Ireland’s leading steel shed business, Sean shares a rollercoaster entrepreneurial journey packed with grit, hustle, and heart.</p> <p>With no formal education beyond the age of 14 and a background shaped by dyslexia and adversity, Sean embodies the very essence of resilience. He opens up about cold calling his way to success, reinventing himself through personal development, and why not caring what others think is the greatest entrepreneurial mindset of all.</p> <p>This is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever doubted themselves, questioned their path, or needed a reminder that the best businesses often start with zero resources and pure belief.</p> <p>🎧 Show Notes:<br /> <br /> In this episode, we cover:<br /> <br /> 🔥 Sean’s first “Eureka” ad that kickstarted his painting business<br /> 🚛 How he went from one bag of coal to Galway’s biggest coal distributor<br /> 🏗 The origin story of Steeltech Sheds – and the pints-fuelled brainstorming that led to the name<br /> 🧠 Why overcoming dyslexia became one of his greatest strengths<br /> 🧰 The surprising power of rejection and how it built his sales resilience<br /> 📉 What he did when orders dried up overnight during the crash—and how expansion saved him<br /> 🎯 The marketing lessons he learned that still hold true today<br /> 🧍 Why being the face of your brand matters more than ever in the age of AI<br /> 💬 “If you could not care what other people think about you, your life would be so much happier, better, successful.”</p> <p>🔗 Links & Resources:<br /> Steeltech Sheds — Learn more about Sean’s business: https://www.steeltechsheds.ie/ <br /> The Entrepreneur Experiment Newsletter — Stay updated with new episodes and insights: https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1</p> <p> </p> <p>---<br /> Visit my partners</p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland</p> <p>Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE </p> <p>Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee</p>

<p data-start="270" data-end="650">In this bite-sized Mentor Moment from Episode 384, David Jelly, founder of Property Bridges, joins Gary Fox to dissect two of Ireland’s biggest challenges: why people aren’t investing — despite sitting on billions in cash — and why startups struggle to retain talent in a post-COVID world. From cultural mindsets to broken incentives, David gets honest about what needs to change.</p> <p data-start="652" data-end="774">Whether you're a founder, investor, or just trying to make sense of Ireland’s economic contradictions, this moment will provide some useful food for thought on investing in Ireland, and how to shape your team in our hybrid working world. <br /> <br /> ------<br /> <span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto">Visit my partners: <br /> Enterprise Ireland:</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto"><a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a><a class= "yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href= "https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbF9lOUJTeWFjUUNpQXN1d0VNelAySWZObFZtZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttb0JCV1Y1RzBvRzFOcUdIb2JLMGZlMjNER19ZSldmOVoxMndKQXB4VXlPTXktMF92YWZYTUUxcWVmYm94bk1VejRTUWpiS1RJYUQ0enNJajNXMUVZSWROb2xzdkx2SlRSbEJfTXQtLTNKcXdZNGxKNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FEIreland%C2%A0&v=ToAtfsPCOoY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> </a></span> <span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><br /> Azure Communications:</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir="auto"><a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a><a class= "yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href= "https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFdneng5UlRDU1JhM3dxcjVzSFB1X21RcDlRd3xBQ3Jtc0ttTlp1Z1AwZXlmbzdfR3NLRGVUNWtRa19GWFpxZ0MyaVpISG1Cc25FUDRtaWk0NENMazRzMXhBRG9qTWh6SHk0UXV5VlhHMG5ocU90TVRDN2pMbVprdExrXzgwTkx3MnVTUXJKV29DakVyQ1BKSmZxQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FazureEE%C2%A0&v=ToAtfsPCOoY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> </a></span> <span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><br /> Nostra:</span> <span class= "yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" dir= "auto"><a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href= "https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUZEV1NOdGlXMC16cktobTdtRWZ3VmhUNXhKd3xBQ3Jtc0tsalRFRmplZVdDaEdCUlJKeEIxNWhzdXFRblJOR29oaTc1dXVkN3NuWlpveURCRUlyLU5OYXAwWjE0ZHZhc2VxME1GWXRtXzcyR3liSmpfYkl1VG5id2ZIcExaOGJULV9YVjZEc190cjBCbXRZZllDQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fnostraee&v=ToAtfsPCOoY" target="_blank" rel= "nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></span></p>

<p>In this inspiring episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Charlene Flanagan and Niamh Ryan—the powerhouse duo behind Ella & Jo, one of Ireland’s fastest-growing beauty brands.<br /> <br /> From a single product and two simultaneous pregnancies to a global business stocked in Boots, Dunnes Stores and over 400 pharmacies, their story is anything but ordinary. Charlene and Niamh open up about how they built Ella & Jo from the West of Ireland, how they define success on their own terms, and why authenticity, connection, and community are at the heart of everything they do.<br /> <br /> Whether you’re a solo founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or building a business while juggling parenthood—this episode will leave you fired up, grounded, and full of ideas.<br /> <br /> Show Notes:<br /> In this episode, we cover:<br /> 💡 The serendipitous start to Charlene & Niamh’s partnership<br /> 👩‍🔬 From skin clinic and bridal makeup to co-founders of a global beauty brand<br /> 🧴 How a single brush cleanser idea turned into an award-winning product range<br /> 🌍 Building a global brand from the West of Ireland<br /> 💬 Why your business doesn’t have to be born in Dublin, London, or NYC<br /> 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Growing a business while growing a family—simultaneous pregnancies and startup hustle<br /> 🧘 The importance of defining your own version of success<br /> 🌟 How coaching and self-acceptance helped shape their leadership styles<br /> 📦 Behind the scenes of product development: the 9-month launch timeline<br /> 🤝 The role of trust, community, and social media in scaling Ella & Jo<br /> 🧠 How to stay creatively inspired while managing the demands of entrepreneurship<br /> <br /> Links & Resources:<br /> <br /> 💻 Ella & Jo Website: <a href= "https://ellaandjo.ie">https://ellaandjo.ie</a> <br /> 📸 Charlene Flanagan Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/charleneflanagan_">https://www.instagram.com/charleneflanagan_</a> <br /> 👩‍⚕️ Niamh Ryan Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/niamhryan_skin/">https://www.instagram.com/niamhryan_skin/</a> <br /> 🛍️ Buy Ella & Jo at Boots Ireland: <a href= "https://www.boots.ie/ella-and-jo">https://www.boots.ie/ella-and-jo</a> <br /> 📚 Going for Growth – Women entrepreneurs programme: <a href= "https://goingforgrowth.com/">https://goingforgrowth.com/</a> <br /> <br /> ---<br /> Visit my partners:<br /> <br /> Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a> <br /> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> <br /> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p>

<p data-start="279" data-end="623">In this Mentor Moment from Episode 355 of <em data-start="321" data-end="350">The Entrepreneur Experiment</em>, Barry Napier shares hard-won wisdom on how founders need to evolve as their companies scale. From letting go of control to building a culture of trust and accountability, Barry reflects on how he went from “hard work and chaos” to leading with clarity and self-awareness.</p> <p data-start="625" data-end="779">If you're a founder feeling the weight of doing it all, this is a must-watch moment on what it really means to grow — not just your company, but yourself.</p> <p data-start="781" data-end="921">Full Episode: <em data-start="798" data-end="827">The Entrepreneur Experiment</em> Episode 355</p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with John Purdy, co-founder of Ergo and a seasoned leader who has helped shape the Irish tech landscape over the past three decades.<br /> <br /> From launching Ergo in 1993 with just a handful of people to scaling it into one of Ireland’s top IT services companies, John shares the highs, the hard decisions, and the philosophies that guided him through it all. John shares a rare behind-the-scenes look at how he scaled Ergo without external investment and spun out an eventual unicorn, Fenergo, along the way. He opens up about the emotional and strategic decision to step away as CEO after 28 years, and what he’s doing now to give back—both to founders and to causes close to his heart. If you're building a business or figuring out what comes after success, this is the playbook.<br /> <br /> Show Notes:<br /> <br /> In this episode, we cover:<br /> <br /> 🚀 Growing Ergo from a printer repair business to €200M+ in revenue<br /> <br /> 📊 How John bootstrapped and resisted outside investment for decades<br /> <br /> 🏗️ Spinning out Fenergo—now valued at €1.2 billion<br /> <br /> 🔁 Why he stepped down as CEO and how he let go without meddling<br /> <br /> 🧠 What he looks for before joining a startup board or investing<br /> <br /> 🔥 The brutal honesty of what it takes to scale and survive the “messy middle”<br /> <br /> 🤝 How personal values define great founders<br /> <br /> 💬 "The team that got me the last trophy won’t get me the next one." — John Purdy quoting Sir Alex Ferguson on leadership and succession<br /> <br /> Links & Resources Ergo Technology Group: <a href= "https://ergotechnologygroup.com/">https://ergotechnologygroup.com/</a><br /> Connect with John Purdy on LinkedIn: <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpurdy">https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpurdy</a><br /> Book mentioned: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl<br /> Recommended Podcast: The Tim Ferriss Show<br /> <br /> Visit my partners<br /> Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a> <br /> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> <br /> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a> </p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Keilidh Cashell — one of Ireland’s most recognisable beauty creators turned entrepreneur and founder of Kash Beauty. With over 2 million followers on TikTok and a loyal global audience, Keilidh opens up about what it really takes to build a brand in the public eye. From creating makeup looks in her bedroom to leading a business stocked internationally, Keilidh shares the highs, the challenges, and the moments where she questioned it all.<br /> <br /> She talks burnout, stepping back from content creation to become a better CEO, and learning how to lead a team while staying true to her creative core. This is an unfiltered look at the business behind the brand — and the mindset shift required to scale beyond just being the face of it. Whether you're a content creator dreaming of launching your own product or a founder navigating what growth actually feels like, this one is a must-listen.<br /> <br /> Show Notes:<br /> <br /> In this episode, we cover:<br /> <br /> 💄 How Keilidh transitioned from makeup influencer to founder of Kash Beauty<br /> <br /> 🌍 Scaling a brand globally while staying rooted in authenticity<br /> <br /> 🎥 The pressure of building a business while millions watch online<br /> <br /> 🧠 Burnout, boundaries and taking a step back to lead better<br /> <br /> 📦 Why she focused on product and customer experience before anything else 💬 Learning how to hire, manage and make tough business calls<br /> <br /> 🧪 Creating products that go viral and deliver results<br /> <br /> 💡 “At the start, it was all vibes — no plan.”<br /> <br /> 🔑 What it really means to build something bigger than yourself<br /> <br /> Links & Resources:<br /> Follow Keilidh on YouTube: <a class= "mention-chip ytcp-social-suggestion-input" spellcheck="false" href="https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCk276aZX30B7URxbSeWnKhQ">@KeilidhMua </a><br /> Follow Keilidh on TikTok: <a href= "https://www.tiktok.com/@keilidhmua">https://www.tiktok.com/@keilidhmua</a><br /> Follow Keilidh on Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/keilidhmua/">https://www.instagram.com/keilidhmua/</a> <br /> Shop Kash Beauty: <a href= "https://www.kashbeauty.com/">https://www.kashbeauty.com/</a> <br /> Kash Beauty on Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/kash_beauty/">https://www.instagram.com/kash_beauty/</a><br /> <br /> ---<br /> <br /> Visit my partners<br /> Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a> <br /> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> <br /> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox is joined by Gerry Hussey - performance psychologist, author, and founder of Soul Space- for a raw, profound conversation on mindset, mastery, and meaning. From coaching Olympic athletes to filling the National Concert Hall with nothing but belief and vision, Gerry shares the ignition moments that shaped his life's work.</p> <p>He opens up about overcoming debilitating anxiety as a teenager, how his mother’s unconditional love set him on a path of purpose, and why real change doesn’t start with tactics - it starts with truth. Whether you're an entrepreneur, athlete, or someone simply searching for clarity and courage, this episode will leave you rethinking how you show up for yourself and the world around you.</p> <p>Show Notes</p> <p>In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>💥 The “ignition moment” that set Gerry on his life’s mission</p> <p>🧠 How he rebuilt his mindset after early trauma and self-doubt</p> <p>🥊 Lessons from working with Olympic boxing teams and elite athletes</p> <p>🎯 The "WIN" Mindset: What's Important Now</p> <p>🧘‍♂️ Building daily habits of personal excellence</p> <p>💬 The power of saying no, and living with integrity</p> <p>🏛️ Booking out the National Concert Hall during lockdown - with zero notes</p> <p>🔄 Reset triggers: why emotional mastery starts with micro-decisions</p> <p>🔍 Why most people fall short: the missing “why” behind their goals</p> <p>👨‍👩‍👧 The true measure of success (hint: it’s not money or medals)</p> <p>Links & Resources Mentioned:</p> <p>Gerry Hussey’s New Book: I Am, I Can, I Will: <a href= "https://amzn.to/3YSf6vK">https://amzn.to/3YSf6vK</a> </p> <p>Soul Space – Gerry’s wellness and performance platform: <a href= "https://soulspace.ie/">https://soulspace.ie/</a></p> <p>Joe Dispenza – Inspiration behind Gerry’s live event transformation</p> <p>Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl</p> <p> </p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, we dive into Conor McHugh's remarkable journey from finance to founding Alchemy Search in Dubai.</p> <p>Drawn by tax-free incentives and sun-soaked opportunities, Conor shares how he navigated the cultural complexities and business challenges of the Middle East over seven years.</p> <p>His story weaves through personal transformation—from KPMG in Guernsey to a soul-searching travel adventure across Asia that sparked his entrepreneurial awakening.</p> <p>With candid insights on managing multicultural teams, overcoming financial pressures, and respecting local business practices, Conor offers invaluable advice for anyone considering the leap into international entrepreneurship.</p> <p>Whether you're curious about expat business opportunities or seeking inspiration to take your own calculated risk, this conversation reveals the grit and adaptability required to succeed far from home.</p> <p> </p> <p>🎧 Show Notes:</p> <p> In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>🌍 Conor's decision to leave London and build a business in Dubai's tax-free environment</p> <p>🔄 The career pivot from finance at KPMG to recruitment entrepreneurship</p> <p>✈️ How a year of international travel triggered his entrepreneurial mindset</p> <p>🤝 The importance of the Irish community network in Dubai</p> <p>💼 Managing multicultural teams and navigating business relationships in the Middle East</p> <p>💰 Financial challenges and the realities of invoice collection across cultures</p> <p>⏱️ Understanding different cultural approaches to timelines and commitments</p> <p>🧠 Overcoming Western entitlement mindset when operating internationally</p> <p>🌱 The evolution of Dubai's business landscape over seven years</p> <p> </p> <p>"A sense of entitlement, often carried by those from Western cities like Dublin or London, can be a hindrance to success in the Middle East." - Conor McHugh</p> <p>--- Visit my Partners </p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p>Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></p> <p>Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p>In this special Dubai-recorded edition of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Trevor McFarlane—CEO and founder of EMIR, the ultra-exclusive intelligence and advisory network serving the region’s top CEOs, ministers, and government officials.</p> <p>Trevor shares the incredible story behind building EMIR from scratch—starting with a borrowed ballroom at the Burj Al Arab and a fake guest list—to now curating powerful, private briefings for over 400 regional leaders.</p> <p>This episode is a masterclass in the psychology of influence, the power of elite curation, and why being “hard to access” is a business strategy. Trevor also offers a piercing macroeconomic analysis of what lies ahead globally, from Trump 2.0 and AI to population booms and climate migration.</p> <p>Whether you’re a founder, strategist, or just a curious mind—this one will leave you thinking.</p> <p><strong>🎧 Show Notes</strong></p> <p>In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>🎩 How Trevor built a high-trust, invite-only CEO network across the Middle East.</p> <p>🧠 The psychology of selectivity: why scarcity builds value.</p> <p>💼 Turning elite briefings into board-level influence (and the risk that comes with it)</p> <p>🌍 From geopolitics to geoeconomics: why the next 25 years will divide the world</p> <p>📉 The real danger of AI: widening inequality</p> <p>📈 Opportunity in adversity: where Trevor sees business potential in climate migration and demographic collapse</p> <p>🏠 A surprising Airbnb idea involving abandoned Japanese islands</p> <p>🇮🇪 Trevor’s blunt take on Ireland’s economy, inequality, and global tax pressures</p> <p><strong>Quote of the Episode</strong></p> <p>💬 “What we’re selling isn’t just intelligence—it’s trust, access, and success.” – Trevor McFarlane</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>🔗 Links & Resources</strong></p> <p>EMIR Official Website → <a href= "https://www.emirintelligence.com">www.emirintelligence.com</a></p> <p> Book mention: The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Visit my Partners </strong></p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></p> <p> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p> <p> </p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Gareth Sheridan, the relentless founder and CEO of Nutriband Inc — a pharmaceutical company tackling one of the most controversial issues in modern medicine: opioid misuse. What started as a college thesis and a dining room stacked with questionable Chinese vitamin patches has since become a NASDAQ-listed company pioneering safer drug delivery systems.</p> <p> </p> <p>Gareth walks us through his raw, rollercoaster journey — from painting houses to fund his dream, to being duped in a million-dollar pump-and-dump scheme, and how he clawed his way back to ring the NASDAQ bell on October 1st with $6.6 million in fresh funding.</p> <p> </p> <p>If you're an entrepreneur with ambition (and a high pain tolerance), this episode will teach you about resilience, smart capital strategy, and how to build billion-dollar businesses the hard way — brick by brick, and patch by patch.</p> <p> </p> <p>🎧 Show Notes: In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>💊 The origin story of Nutriband: from a college idea to fighting the opioid crisis</p> <p>🚗 Why Gareth was a millionaire on paper but driving for Uber in Florida</p> <p> 🏥 How transdermal patches can replace pills and even injections</p> <p>💸 Getting duped: the brutal truth about OTC markets and a $1.5M illusion</p> <p> 🧠 Learning to think like a public company CEO (before even listing)</p> <p>🔁 Why he rebuilt the same company… twice</p> <p>🧱 Gareth’s unique strategy: acquiring IP and talent using stock instead of cash</p> <p>🛑 How he said no to $80 million in funding offers — and why</p> <p>🔔 Manifesting the NASDAQ bell: “It was never if, only when.”</p> <p>⚖️ The shady side of Wall Street: naked shorts, phantom trades, and SEC investigations</p> <p> 📈What it takes to build a billion-dollar business the unconventional way</p> <p>🔗 Links & Resources: Nutriband: <a href= "https://www.nutriband.com/">https://www.nutriband.com/</a></p> <p> Follow Gareth Sheridan on LinkedIn: <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsheridanntrb/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsheridanntrb/</a></p> <p> Watch the GameStop story: Dumb Money (IMDb): <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13957560/">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13957560/</a></p> <p> --- Visit my partners</p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azure">https://bit.ly/azure</a></p> <p>EE Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p> <p> </p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox meets with Eoin Cantwell, founder of Fitt Meals. Eoin shares his remarkable journey from running a busy sports club to creating one of the UAE’s most innovative meal prep businesses. Eoin candidly discusses how he bootstrapped Fitt Meals, his approach to radical transparency with open book management (🤯), and how he empowers his entire team by sharing profits and insights.</p> <p>If you’re an entrepreneur looking to scale your business, enhance your team’s engagement, or understand the power of collective responsibility, this episode provides deep insights into a unique business model and leadership style.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>🎧 Show Notes:</strong></p> <p>In this episode, we cover:</p> <p> </p> <p>🔥 The moment Eoin realised the opportunity in healthy meal prep</p> <p>🚀 How Fitt Meals grew from renting a kitchen at night to operating a state-of-the-art facility</p> <p>💡 Why Eoin believes in radical transparency and open-book management</p> <p>📈 How profit-sharing with employees transformed Fitt Meals’ culture</p> <p>🌍 The challenges and opportunities of scaling a logistics-heavy business</p> <p>🔑 The critical importance of teaching your team the ‘why’ behind decisions</p> <p> 🏋️‍♂️ The balance between company growth and maintaining team culture and morale</p> <p>💬 “A company of owners will always outthink the owner of a company.” – Eoin Cantwell</p> <p><strong> Resources Mentioned:</strong></p> <p>• Scaling Up by Verne Harnish</p> <p>• The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack</p> <p>• HeyGen AI for multilingual communication</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>--- Visit my Partners </strong></p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></p> <p> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p> <p> </p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Pádraig Ó Céidigh, a name synonymous with Irish entrepreneurship and business leadership. Best known for founding and scaling Aer Arann, one of Ireland’s leading regional airlines, Pádraig shares his journey from humble beginnings to building an airline—despite having no aviation experience.</p> <p> </p> <p>He reveals the key moments that defined his career: remortgaging his house to buy an airline, negotiating with Aer Lingus, securing multimillion-dollar aircraft deals, and eventually selling his business. Beyond aviation, he opens up about the personal cost of success, his near-death experience, and the philosophy that guides his life today.</p> <p> </p> <p>If you're an entrepreneur, this episode will change how you think about risk, vision, and what it really means to build a business with purpose.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>📌 Show Notes:</strong></p> <p>In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>✈️ How Pádraig went from teacher to airline owner—without aviation experience </p> <p>💡 The mindset shift that allowed him to scale Aer Arann from a small regional service to a multimillion-dollar business</p> <p>📉 The biggest challenges of running an airline (and why profitability was harder than it looked) 🎯 Why a clear focus on one word—safety—transformed his business strategy</p> <p>⚖️ The cost of entrepreneurship: health, family, and personal sacrifices</p> <p>📖 His perspective on wealth beyond just money and how he defines success today</p> <p>📚 His book, ‘The Purposeful Decision Maker,’ and the lessons inside</p> <p>🚀 His next chapter: mentoring, investing, and new business ventures</p> <p><strong>🔗 Resources:</strong></p> <p>📖 The Purposeful Decision Maker – Pádraig Ó Céidigh’s book</p> <p>📚 Recommended book: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel</p> <p> --- Visit my partners</p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></p> <p> Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p> <p> </p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Richard Fitzgerald, the founder of Augustus Media, an award-winning modern media company in the UAE and KSA, publishers of Lovin Dubai, Lovin Saudi, and Smashi TV.</p> <p>With a background in media and advertising since 2006, Richard worked at agencies in Ireland, England, and the UAE before building a regional social media department at Mindshare MENA and later becoming Managing Director of a creative technology start-up.</p> <p>In 2015, he launched Augustus Media, a ‘new media’ company that has since expanded across the Middle East, winning Best SME Company at the 2018 MENA EFFIE Awards. Today, Augustus operates Lovin brands in multiple cities, including Dubai, Saudi, Bahrain, Cairo, Riyadh, and Sharjah, and in 2019, they added ODEUM, a dedicated content studio, to their growing media empire.</p> <p>Richard reveals the strategies he used to scale his media brands, the challenges of monetising digital media, and why he believes traditional media is broken.</p> <p>If you’re building a content brand or looking to scale your business in a competitive market, this is a must-listen!</p> <p>🎧 Show Notes: In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>🔥 How Richard turned Lovin Dubai into a media powerhouse from scratch</p> <p>🚀 The strategies he used to growth-hack his way to millions of pageviews</p> <p>💡 The future of media & why traditional outlets are struggling to adapt </p> <p>🌍 Expanding across the Middle East: The challenges of entering new markets (Dubai, Saudi, Bahrain, Cairo, Riyadh & more!)</p> <p> 🔑 How Lovin and Smashi became the region’s leading digital media brands 📈 Revenue, investment, and why he rejected buyout offers</p> <p>🎥 The role of ODEUM, Augustus Media’s content studio</p> <p>🎤 Hiring journalists vs. content creators – what media needs now</p> <p>📌 Resources & Links: 📖 Learn more about Augustus Media: <a href= "https://weareaugustus.com/">https://weareaugustus.com/</a></p> <p>📰 Follow Lovin brands across the Middle East: <a href= "https://lovin.co/">https://lovin.co/</a></p> <p>🎥 Check out Smashi TV – <a href= "https://smashi.tv/en">https://smashi.tv/en</a></p> <p>🎬 Discover ODEUM – Augustus Media’s content studio: <a href= "https://weareaugustus.com/odeum/">https://weareaugustus.com/odeum/</a></p> <p>📱 Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/fitzyrichard/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/fitzyrichard/</a></p> <p>💬 “I didn’t want to think about fundraising or exits—I wanted to build something real, something that lasts.” – Richard Fitzgerald</p> <p> </p> <p>--- Visit my partners ---</p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></p> <p>Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Greg Bradley, founder of BLK BOX, one of the leading gym equipment manufacturers in Europe.</p> <p>Greg shares his journey from bootstrapping a startup with no engineering background to building a business that supplies some of the world’s top sports teams—including Irish Rugby and 75% of the Premier League clubs.</p> <p>Greg opens up about the challenges of scaling a manufacturing business, the rollercoaster ride of COVID-19, and why he stepped away from the CEO role to focus on his strengths.</p> <p>If you’re an entrepreneur looking for insights on brand-building, international expansion, and leadership, this episode is packed with value. </p> <p>🎧 Show Notes: In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>🔥 From side hustle to global brand – How Greg built BLK BOX from scratch</p> <p>🏋️‍♂️ Supplying the pros – Landing contracts with elite sports teams & gym chains</p> <p>📉 The COVID challenge – Why it was a net negative for the business</p> <p>💡 Lessons in leadership – Why Greg hired a CEO to replace himself</p> <p>📈 Scaling manufacturing – Expanding operations without outside investment</p> <p>🇺🇸 Cracking the U.S. market – BLK BOX’s next big move</p> <p>🎯 The future of fitness – Hyrox, functional training, and what’s next</p> <p>💬 "I didn’t bring investment in at the start because I feel sometimes money can suffocate creativity. My strength has always been being resourceful—turning lemons into lemonade." - Greg Bradley </p> <p>📌 Resources & Links:</p> <p>🔗 BLK BOX – Greg’s company: <a href= "https://www.blkboxfitness.com/">https://www.blkboxfitness.com/</a></p> <p>📖 Scaling Up – Business book recommendation</p> <p>🏃‍♂️ Hyrox – The fitness race taking over: <a href= "https://hyrox.com/">https://hyrox.com/</a></p> <p>📱 Follow Greg Bradley on LinkedIn: <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-bradley-69610539/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-bradley-69610539/</a></p> <p>🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Entrepreneur Experiment for more inspiring founder stories.</p> <p>--- Visit my partners</p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p> Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></p> <p>Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p> <p> </p>

<p>The Entrepreneur Experiment Live Special with The Local Enterprise Offices: Lessons from Ireland’s Top Founders.</p> <p>To celebrate Local Enterprise Week, we sit down with Tom Keogh of Keogh’s Crisps and Noreen Hackett of Advanced Cosmetics to uncover the real stories behind building globally recognised brands from Ireland.</p> <p>Tom shares how his family farm transformed from market gardening to a premium snack brand sold in over 20 countries, including on international airlines.</p> <p>Noreen reveals how she went from chemist to CEO, creating an end-to-end cosmetics manufacturing powerhouse serving 37 brands worldwide.</p> <p> If you're a founder or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with real-world insights on branding, scaling, and navigating sustainability and global expansion.</p> <p>🎧 Show Notes: In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>🔥 The power of branding – How Tom turned a family farm into a global snack brand</p> <p>🚀 Taking the leap – How Noreen built her cosmetics empire from scratch</p> <p>💡 The importance of authenticity – Why telling the truth in branding is a competitive advantage 📈 Expanding internationally – Breaking into global markets while staying true to your roots</p> <p>🌍 Sustainability & business – What actually works vs. greenwashing</p> <p>💰 Navigating funding & investment – Lessons from early-stage growth</p> <p>🔑 Scaling smartly – How to manage multiple business lines without losing focus</p> <p>💬 "Word of mouth is the most powerful form of marketing you’ll ever get." – Tom Keogh</p> <p>📌 Resources & Links:</p> <p>📖 Enterprise Ireland – Support for Irish startups: enterprise-ireland.com</p> <p>🛍️ Keogh’s Crisps – <a href= "https://www.keoghs.ie">www.keoghs.ie </a></p> <p>🧴 Advanced Cosmetics – <a href= "https://www.advancedcosmetics.ie">www.advancedcosmetics.ie</a></p> <p>Loved this episode?</p> <p>Subscribe to The Entrepreneur Experiment for more founder insights.</p> <p>--- Visit my partners</p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p>Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></p> <p>Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a> </p>

<p>In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Sean Blanchfield, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Demonware, PageFair, and Jentic, to unpack his journey from student entrepreneur to scaling and selling tech companies.</p> <p>Sean shares candid insights into the early days of launching startups in Ireland, how Demonware became a critical player in multiplayer gaming, and the bold pivots that led to success.</p> <p>He also dives into his later ventures, PageFair, which tackled ad blocking in the digital advertising space, and Jentic, his latest project at the forefront of AI-driven market insights.</p> <p>From fundraising struggles to navigating acquisitions, Sean reflects on the lessons he’s learned across multiple ventures. If you’re a founder working on product-market fit, considering an exit, or fascinated by the business behind gaming and ad tech, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.</p> <p>🎧 Show Notes:</p> <p>In this episode, we cover:</p> <p>🔥 The origins of Demonware and its role in multiplayer gaming</p> <p>🚀 How Sean and his co-founders pivoted their product four times before finding the right fit</p> <p>💡 Fundraising challenges in Ireland and how they bootstrapped early growth</p> <p>🎮 The rise of online gaming and how Demonware powered global hits like Call of Duty</p> <p>📈 Selling to Activision – why it was the right move and how the deal unfolded</p> <p>🛑 PageFair & ad-blocking – the problem it solved and how it changed the digital ad space</p> <p>🤖 Jentic – Sean’s latest AI-driven insights company and the future of market intelligence</p> <p>💼 The emotional and strategic aspects of selling a business</p> <p>🤔 Lessons from failed ventures and why iteration is key to startup success</p> <p>💬 "We were in existential crisis for the first 18 months. Then suddenly, we had product-market fit, and everything changed." – Sean Blanchfield</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Visit my Partners</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">---</p> <p dir="ltr">📌 Resources & Links:</p> <p dir="ltr">🔗 Enterprise Ireland – Support for Startups: <a href= "https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/">https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">🎮 Demonware – Behind Activision’s Multiplayer Gaming: <a href= "https://www.demonware.net/">https://www.demonware.net/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">📢 PageFair – Ad-Blocking Analytics & Solutions: <a href= "https://www.pagefair.com/">https://www.pagefair.com/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">📊 Jentic – AI-Powered Market Intelligence: <a href= "https://www.jentic.com/">https://www.jentic.com/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">📱 Follow Sean Blanchfield on LinkedIn: <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanblanchfield">https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanblanchfield</a></p> <p dir="ltr">📖 The Lean Startup – Eric Ries (A book Sean references in his startup journey)</p>

<p dir="ltr">In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Aimee Connolly, the powerhouse founder behind Sculpted by Aimee. From working on makeup counters at 16 to building one of Ireland’s most successful beauty brands, Aimee shares her incredible journey of bootstrapping her way to the top.</p> <p dir="ltr">She reveals the bold steps she took—cold emailing manufacturers, self-funding her first product launch, and scaling from a solo founder to leading an international beauty empire. If you're an entrepreneur looking for real, unfiltered insights on launching a product, navigating challenges, and building a loyal brand community, this episode is for you.</p> <p dir="ltr">🎧 Show Notes:<br /> In this episode, we cover:<br /> 🔥 The moment Aimee decided to build her own beauty brand<br /> 🚀 How she launched Sculpted by Aimee with just €10,000<br /> 💡 The power of ‘massive action’ and breaking down big goals<br /> 📈 Bootstrapping vs. raising investment: the cashflow lessons she learned<br /> 🌍 Expanding into new markets: from Ireland to the UK and beyond<br /> 🔑 Why authenticity and community-building have been key to her success<br /> 🏋️‍♀️ Balancing business growth with personal well-being</p> <p dir="ltr">💬 "The number one difference between an entrepreneur and someone who doesn’t start is knowing you don’t have all the answers—but not letting that stop you." – Aimee Connolly</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Visit my Partners</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p><strong id= "docs-internal-guid-ab8a011b-7fff-2ab0-63c0-bc6211a188f9">📌 Resources & Links:<br /> 📖 <a href="https://bit.ly/EIreland">Enterprise Ireland: Support for Startups<br /></a>🛍️ <a href= "https://www.sculptedbyaimee.com/">Sculpted by Aimee<br /></a>📱</strong> Follow Aimee Connolly on <strong id= "docs-internal-guid-ab8a011b-7fff-2ab0-63c0-bc6211a188f9"><a href= "https://www.instagram.com/aimeeconnolly_com">Instagram</a> & <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-connolly-0a10489b/">LinkedIn</a> 🎙️<br /> <br /> Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Entrepreneur Experiment for more insights from world-class founders.</strong></p>

<p dir="ltr">Two of our all-time favourite guests return to the pod to announce their $36 million fundraising round!</p> <p dir="ltr">In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Dan Hobbs & Ciarán O’Mara, the co-founders of Protex AI, a startup using computer vision to prevent workplace accidents before they happen.</p> <p dir="ltr">They first appeared on the podcast in 2023 after raising $18M. One year later, per Gary’s prediction about how their 2024 would go, they’ve just closed a $36M Series B, expanded from 4 to 22 countries, and are working with Fortune 500 giants like DHL.</p> <p dir="ltr">Show notes:<br /> <br /> In this episode we cover:<br /> <br /> 🔥 The brutal reality of raising capital & how they secured $54M<br /> 🚀 How they attracted inbound investors and flipped the script<br /> 💡 How AI is transforming workplace safety & why enterprises are buying in<br /> 💰 The difference between raising a Seed, Series A & Series B<br /> 📈 What it REALLY takes to scale from startup to enterprise<br /> 🔑 Why building relationships—not just products—matters in B2B sales<br /> 🏋️‍♂️ The mindset shifts they had to make as leaders</p> <p dir="ltr">If you’re a founder looking to raise capital, scale a startup, or break into enterprise sales, this episode is packed with raw, real-world insights. </p> <p dir="ltr"><br /> 🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Entrepreneur Experiment for more deep-dive conversations with world-class entrepreneurs.<br /> <br /> Resources & Links:<br /> 📖 The Founder’s Survival Guide by Rachel Turner<br /> 📩 Learn more about Protex AI: <a href= "https://www.protex.ai">protex.ai</a>📱 Follow Dan Hobbs & Ciarán O’Meara on LinkedIn: <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-hobbs-258998ab/">Dan Hobbs</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaranomara/">Ciarán O'Mara</a>🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Entrepreneur Experiment for more deep-dive conversations with world-class entrepreneurs.<strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">---</p> <p dir="ltr">Visit my partners</p> <p dir="ltr">Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbURzV2JCd2o1Q2VORnU0UU9xM2NzMmRQeXRDd3xBQ3Jtc0tuREkxWnhtckVGbTVZMFQ0ZUlXMGZrY3ZNTENQZlh0VnlLWEM1Ul9DajdSUF9fajhUbzhja04wYkJsWlg2dUJCeXl1bFczbzlXY2RnXzdIODJ2QlVQMUhXS0p3dmhPYklYRC1WMHhyME1JZnJxQVo0WQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FEIreland&v=OzFnW7LAR_Q"> https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Azure Communications: <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmd5cGxoRTdXbzlWaDliZTQxYWlYN0t3cll3d3xBQ3Jtc0ttQTg5Mml3MnNtVWhOYTR5M2pXUklJdk5fN3gwUmJRb1FzRXlEaXZmcEdxamItUGFFaEVYbXctVTg1bDRkcXhWZTY4TXRqbnExQjJIQjNzbzljazJMU2x5czdidXo2NHZXblM4c3NFSmF1OWg3dURpcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FazureEE&v=OzFnW7LAR_Q"> https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> </p> <p><strong id= "docs-internal-guid-15fa1b81-7fff-e9af-5ce3-7e8b743a2f8c">Nostra: <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHM0ckRyT2V0YkQ4eDZRRGRLdlNnNmdLS2pwQXxBQ3Jtc0trZ0p3Q2J5M01EN1RuWGRjUVZsS1RiOEdoWUZsVnFRX1dVcWtJNHFJUEpfdUJvbE8ySFdvNVAxTzZrcVZDZUZLT0oyN3ozbHJUcWFfd2xNOVRNcXZnNmNVWWlCdHIwOGlra2ZqRTBSeGdPb1hkYU1fdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fnostraee&v=OzFnW7LAR_Q"> https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></strong></p>

<p>Sahil Bloom went from private equity investor to one of the most influential creators and investors in the world—without a plan. In this episode, he shares his founder formula for success, why money isn’t the answer, and the hidden struggles behind entrepreneurship. We discuss defining your own version of wealth, battling imposter syndrome, and the power of taking action over planning. If you’re searching for clarity in business, body, and brain—this one’s for you.</p> <h3><strong>Show Notes</strong></h3> <p><strong>In this episode, we cover:</strong><br /> ✔️ Sahil’s journey from private equity to creator, investor, and entrepreneur<br /> ✔️ Why money alone won’t make you happy—and what actually does<br /> ✔️ The “arrival fallacy” and why success never feels like you expect<br /> ✔️ The biggest mistake founders make when chasing more<br /> ✔️ Why imposter syndrome is a tax on growth (and how to reframe it)<br /> ✔️ How Sahil structures his businesses for maximum impact<br /> ✔️ The power of defining your <em>own</em> success instead of society’s version<br /> ✔️ How to balance ambition with purpose without burning out</p> <p><strong>Resources & Links:</strong><br /> 📖 Get Sahil’s book <em>The Five Types of Wealth</em>: <a href= "https://thefivetypesofwealth.com" target="_new" rel= "noopener">thefivetypesofwealth.com</a><br /> 📩 Subscribe to Sahil’s <em>Curiosity Chronicle</em>: <a href= "https://www.sahilbloom.com" target="_new" rel= "noopener">sahilbloom.com</a><br /> 📱 Follow Sahil on Social Media: @SahilBloom on all platforms</p> <p>🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review and subscribe to <em>The Entrepreneur Experiment</em> for more deep-dive conversations with world-class entrepreneurs.</p>

<p>In this episode, we sit down with <strong>Colin Harmon</strong>, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed Ireland’s coffee culture. From starting as a barista to building <strong>3fe</strong>, one of Ireland's most respected coffee brands, Colin shares his journey of entrepreneurship, branding, and the shifting landscape of social spaces.</p> <p>We explore:</p> <ul> <li>Why traditional social spaces like banks, pubs, and churches are declining</li> <li>The power of <strong>community in business</strong></li> <li>How Colin built <strong>3fe</strong> from a single café to an industry leader</li> <li>The business lessons he learned through <strong>scaling and adapting</strong></li> <li>The future of <strong>coffee culture and entrepreneurship</strong></li> </ul> <p>If you’re an aspiring founder or someone fascinated by <strong>how businesses shape culture</strong>, this episode is a must-listen!</p> <p>--</p> <p><strong>Visit my partners</strong></p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p>Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> </p> <p>Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p> <p> </p> <p>--</p> <h3><strong>Show Notes:</strong></h3> <p><strong>Guest:</strong> Colin Harmon, Founder of 3fe Coffee</p> <p><strong>Topics Covered:</strong></p> <ol> <li> <p><strong>The Evolution of Social Spaces</strong></p> <ul> <li>Why traditional meeting points are disappearing</li> <li>How coffee shops have replaced banks and pubs as social hubs</li> </ul> </li> <li> <p><strong>Colin’s Entrepreneurial Journey</strong></p> <ul> <li>How he transitioned from a finance job to coffee</li> <li>The early struggles of starting a coffee business</li> <li>Scaling from one café to a <strong>respected brand</strong></li> </ul> </li> <li> <p><strong>The Business of Coffee</strong></p> <ul> <li>The challenges of <strong>running a specialty coffee company</strong></li> <li>How <strong>branding and storytelling</strong> played a key role in growth</li> <li>Why <strong>community-driven businesses</strong> thrive</li> </ul> </li> <li> <p><strong>Lessons in Leadership & Growth</strong></p> <ul> <li>The mindset shifts needed to scale a business</li> <li>Why <strong>customer experience</strong> is the most valuable asset</li> <li>Future trends in <strong>coffee and hospitality</strong></li> </ul> </li> </ol> <p><strong>Resources Mentioned:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://3fe.com" target="_new" rel="noopener">3fe Coffee Website</a></li> <li>Colin Harmon’s Book: <em>What I Know About Running Coffee Shops</em></li> <li>Follow Colin on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/colinharmon" target="_new" rel="noopener">Instagram</a></li> </ul>

<p>With 400 episodes under my belt, I'm turning the mic on myself to share the origins of this passion project that started as a side experiment and grew into a full-fledged business.</p> <p>This is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode where I answer all the questions you sent in over the last few weeks.</p> <p>How does the pod make money? What do I look for in a guest? </p> <p>Discover the pivot from property management to podcasting and the invaluable lessons learned along this unpredictable entrepreneurial path.</p> <p>From the nuances of guest selection to cultivating a unique storytelling approach, I share my blueprint for creating compelling content that resonates with audiences.</p> <h1 class="text-xl text-gray-900 font-semibold leading-8 mb-6" data-v-8f3fd7d8=""><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chapter Timestamps</span></h1> <div class="text-base font-base text-gray-700" data-v-8f3fd7d8=""> (00:01) - Gary Fox Celebrates 400 Episodes</div> <div class="text-base font-base text-gray-700" data-v-8f3fd7d8=""> (10:25) - Podcast Sponsorship and Business Strategies</div> <div class="text-base font-base text-gray-700" data-v-8f3fd7d8=""> (22:40) - Gary Fox's Guest Selection Process</div> <div class="text-base font-base text-gray-700" data-v-8f3fd7d8=""> (28:00) - Podcasting, Investing, and Self-Reflection</div> <div class="text-base font-base text-gray-700" data-v-8f3fd7d8=""> (35:41) - Podcast Preparation and Mindset Development</div> <div class="text-base font-base text-gray-700" data-v-8f3fd7d8=""> (47:28) - Entrepreneurial Success and Life Lessons</div> <div class="text-base font-base text-gray-700" data-v-8f3fd7d8=""> (56:40) - Family Business and Time Management</div> <p>--</p> <p><strong>Visit my partners</strong></p> <p>Enterprise Ireland: <a href= "https://bit.ly/EIreland">https://bit.ly/EIreland</a></p> <p>Azure Communications: <a href= "https://bit.ly/azureEE">https://bit.ly/azureEE</a> </p> <p>Nostra: <a href= "https://bit.ly/nostraee">https://bit.ly/nostraee</a></p>